James w



(No Model.)

J. W. COLLIER. INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAME SOCKET.

Patented Oct. 14, 189C.v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. COLLIER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INCANDESCENT-ELECTRIC-LAIVIP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.438,431, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed August 15,1890.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.: Be it known that I, JAMES W. COLLIER, o the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sockets or Holders for Incandescent Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has particular relation to the construction and arrangement of the key and contact springs of an incandescent lamp socket or holder, the object being to provide asimple and eective means for holding securely the key in the socket, while at the same time making it possible to detach and replace the key readily and quickly. To this end that portion of the key which enters the socket has on it a wing or wings, for the passage of which a suitable slot is formed at the edge of the opening or hole in the socket through which th'e key is inserted between the contactsprings, these springs being so placed with reference to the slot that they will hold the key open or closed in a position where its wing or wings will be out of register with the slot.

The nature of the improvement will be readily understood by reterence to the accompanying drawings, in which I have represented it as applied to a holder of the kindset forth in my patent, No. 409,929, of August 27, 1889.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the socket with the key removed. Fig. 2 is a view of the key. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the holder with the key turned to close the circuit. Fig. 4 is a like section with the key turned to open the circuit. Fig. 5 is a plan of the holder (with cap removed) with the parts in the position seen in Fig. 4.

It is not necessary to show or describe in detail the circuit-connections of theholder A. It is suflicient to say that they are similar to those described in my hereinbefore-named Letters Patent, ff being the tubular or socketed contacts for reception of the leading-in wires, which are held in place by the cap B. The movable contacts for completing the circuit are contained in the chamber b of the holder and they consist ofspring-conducting strips c c', between which enters the key K, by which they are operated. This key consists of a cylindrical stem provided with a ilattened, winged, or flanged portion 7s, which extends between and is intended to operate Serial No. 362,089. (No model.)

the contact-spriu gs. In one side of the holder is a hole h of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the neck or stem ofthe key, and the hole at the proper points is extended laterally to form a slot or slot-s s for the passage of the winged or flattened part of thekey. A quarter-revolution of the key will cause il. to move from open to closed circuit position and vice versa. The slot s is set quartering, or at an angle of forty-tive degrees to each position, so that when the key is in either one ofthe two positions which it occupies when in use7 its iianged or iiattened portion will be out ofregister with the slot s, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4..

To insert the key, all that is needed is to hold the contact-springs apart, and then to insert the key through the hole h until its inner end enters the socket formed for it inthe side of the chamber b opposite the hole 7L. Vhen f the key has been thus inserted,its part kwill be between the contact-springs, Awhich when released will spring together and in so doing will bring the key to the position shown in Fig. 3. Manifestly the key can be withdrawn just as easily as it can be fitted to the holder.

To insure retention of the key in closed-circuit position, asin Fig. 4, I form in one of the contact-springs a shallow groove or concavity g at the point where it meets the edge of the part la when in this position. Each spring can be provided with such a groove, if desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the holder or socket-provided with contact-springs and having a hole 7i and cross-slot s in its side, with the key provided with a winged or flattened portion la, eX- tending between and adapted to operate upon the springs, the arrangement of parts being such that when the key is in either one of the two positions which it occupies when in use its iianged or flattened portion 7c will be out of register with the slot s, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of August, A. D., 1890.

W. C. SoUrHwIoK, WILLIAM McCoEMIcK. 

